CARSON, Calif. -- San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski was named MLS MVP on Thursday after tying the league record for 27 goals in a single season. Perhaps the only surprise surrounding the announcement was that the voting wasn’t unanimous.

Wondolowski, 29, powered San Jose to the Supporters Shield title a year after the club finished 14th overall. Among his 27 goals were 11 game-winners. No one else had more than seven. Wondolowski was the first in MLS history to win four player of the month awards in a single season and the first to lead the league in goal scoring three consecutive years. He lost out on the 2011 golden boot award to D.C. United’s Dwayne De Rosario on a tiebreaker.

“It’s an individual award but I like to think of it as a team award as well because I wouldn’t be here without those guys,” Wondolowski said Thursday afternoon before he was presented the crystal trophy at The Home Depot Center. “There aren’t many (goals) that are more than one-touch goals. That shows you what great teammates I have and what great passers they are. I’m not beating 10 guys. I’m not going to shoot it upper 90. But six yards and in, I can get that.”

The career years enjoyed by journeyman forwards Alan Gordon (13 goals) and Steven Lenhart (10) also were testament to Wondolowski’s influence. The native of nearby Danville, Calif., tallied seven regular-season assists and created space and occupied defenders with smart running off the ball.

“We just all play off each other. It’s almost a bit inspirational and it kind of snowballs. You’re having so much fun and we’re all very competitive people,” Wondolowski said. “That keeps us driving. We love to win and when we’re out there we just have a blast.”

During this season’s MLS All-Star Game, Chelsea captain John Terry told Wondolowski, "Your movement is incredible. It's like a nightmare for me.”

The voting by MLS players, club officials and media was a landslide. Wondolowski won 70.8 percent of the player vote, 97 percent of the media vote and 91.2 percent of the club vote, for a total score of 259. New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry finished with 14.5 points thanks largely to the support of 11.5 percent of the players. Sporting Kansas City midfielder Graham Zusi earned a few votes from MLS clubs and players to finish third and Houston Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis, with 3.5 percent of the club vote, was fourth.

“There’s not a more deserving person to win this. We’re going to talk about his goals and what he’s done on the field, but off the field he’s a terrific person. I think it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy,” San Jose coach Frank Yallop said. “He’s such a team guy. Doesn’t always think about himself, although he looks like does when he scores the goals and finishes things off. He just wants to win. That’s important to know. He’s unselfish. He’ll do anything for his teammates, all the things you want in a player.”

Wondolowski is the first American-born MVP since Landon Donovan in 2009 and only the fifth overall, joining Taylor Twellman (’05), Tony Meola (’00) and Jason Kreis (’99). Preki Radosavljevic, a two-time winner, was born and raised in Serbia but emigrated to the U.S. and played for the U.S. national team.

Wondolowski’s rise from obscurity has become one of American soccer’s most compelling stories. Selected in the final round of the ’05 supplemental draft after a four-year career at Chico State University, Wondolowski scored only seven goals in his first five seasons combined. He moved to Houston with the original Earthquakes back in ’06 then was traded back to the revived club in ’09.

Given a regular starting role by coach Frank Yallop, Wondolowski erupted and has scored 62 goals (including one in the playoffs) over the past three years.

“He’s an inspiration to all those tens of millions who play this game, starting from the youngest ages on those grassroots fields,” MLS commissioner Don Garber said.